Game table

ABSTRACT

A game table for games in which a ball is bounced on a table surface wherein the table is formed of two surfaces separated from each other to provide an open space therebetween.

Unifie States Patent lnvenlor Jack H. Pugsley 1610 S.W. 23rd Ave., FortLauderdale, Fla. 33307 Appl. No. 827,418 Filed May 23, 1969 PatentedNov. 23, 1971 GAME TABLE 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/30, 108/59, D33/l4 Int. Cl A63b 39/00 Field of Search 273/30;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,9ll,2l7 ll/l959 Hirschetal273/30 1,773,417 8/l930 Bellonby 108/87 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant Examiner--Theatrice Brown Att0rneyEugene F. MalinABSTRACT: A game table for games in which a ball is bounced on a tablesurface wherein the table is formed of two surfaces separated from eachother to provide an open space therebetween.

PATENIEUuuv 23 l97l 3, 622. 156

25 INVEN'N )R JACK H. PUGSLEY GAME TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to a game tableand in more particularity to a table such as that used in the game oftable tennis.

Table tennis is a variety of the game of tennis which is played on atable with small paddles and a hollow celluloid or plastic ball. Thetable is divided into two sections, one for each player or team ofplayers, by a net which extends above and perpendicular to the tablesurface.

In playing the game the hollow ball is knocked back and forth betweenthe players by means of the paddles and the net serves as a hazard to beavoided by the travelling ball.

2. Description of the Prior Art The table presently used in the game isa single flat surface divided into two sections of equal size by a netextending transversely across the table. The only improvements made onthe basic table have been in the construction of the table such as meansto make it foldable and portable. To my knowledge there have been nochanges advanced in the playing surface itself.

US. Pat No. 2,163,456 to Youngberg discloses a playing surface which isdesigned to be placed on the floor. The usual net has been replaced by apainted dividing strip to divide the surface into two equal areas. Thehazard of the net has been removed and replaced by the painted strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of my invention toprovide a game table comprised of a plurality of surfaces separated byan open space therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide a game table for playinggames of the type in which a ball is knocked back and forth over a netwherein the net is eliminated and replaced by an open space.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a table to enable thegame of table tennis to be played in a smaller area than that needed forregular table tennis.

Another object of my invention is to provide a game table with twospaced-apart surfaces in which the space is adjustable so as to vary thegame to suit the desires of the players.

Further features, objects, and advantages will either be specificallypointed out or become apparent when, for a better understanding of theinvention, reference is make to the following written description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a top plan view of a gametable according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a modification of my invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one section of a further modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, thegame table is comprised of two sections 5 and 6. Section 5 is comprisedof a relatively flat top surface 7 and supporting members 8. Section 6is comprised of a relatively flat top surface 9 and supporting members10.

Although the supporting members 8 and 10 are shown here as ordinary legsany suitable type of supports can be used. For example, folding legscould be provided to make the entire game table portable.

Legs 8 and 10 are fastened together by means of a connecting member IIwhich has an adjustable collar 12 of any type well known in the art forvarying the length of connector 11 to move the two table sections closertogether or farther apart.

Surfaces 7 and 9 are illustrated as being substantially pieshaped withthe smaller ends of the sections facing each other.

To provide a larger space 13 between the two sections 5 and 6 thecorners of the two sections are rounded off in the manner illustrated inFIG. I. The outer surfaces are also rounded so as to remove any sharpcomers which might become hazardous to the players.

Surfaces 7 and 9 are tapered down to thin edges, 14 and 15, respectivelyto reduce the possibility of a knocked ball hitting a flat surface andbounding off in an erratic fashion.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 3 two rectangular sections 16and 17 are joined by connectors 18 which are pro vided with collars 19for adjusting and varying the space 20 between the two sections. If onewere to take an ordinary table tennis table as we know it today, splitit across the middle where ordinarily the net is fastened, and pull thetwo halves apart, he would have a table like that illustrated in FIG. 3.Of course, the two halves should be connected in some manner to keep thespace uniform therebetween.

Section 16 is provided with suitable supporting legs 21 and section 17is provided with suitable supporting legs 22. As stated previously theselegs may be removable or foldable for transporting the table from onelocation to another.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of my invention in which an attachment23 is provided to be attached to the edge of playing surface 24.

Attachment 23 can be provided with suitable fasteners to attach it tothe under side of surface 24 thus leaving the top of surface 24unobstructed for play. Attachment 23 is comprised of a vertical baffle25 spaced from the edge of surface 24 by a channel or trough 26. Thechannel 26 is spaced in a plane below the surface 24 so as not tointerfere therewith and may serve as a gutter for returning the ball tothe back of the table when it falls therein.

The vertical baffle 25 extends above the surface 24 a short distance soas to prevent the ball from striking the edge of the table and beingdeflected out of play.

It is obvious that this Figure illustrates only one half of a table withthe other half being a duplicate thereof. The two halves would be joinedby a suitable connector attached to the legs 27 of each half.

Thus it will be seen that l have provided a game table for games such astable tennis where a ball is knocked against the surface of the tablebetween the players in which the usual net has been eliminated and openspace has been substituted therefor. This open space adds interest andexcitement to the game and provides for many variations of play to thegame of table tennis.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and material, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A game table for moving a ball from one surface to anothercomprising,

a first horizontal table, and

a second horizontal table in the same plane as said first table, eachtable with legs for supporting same, and means connected to a leg ofeach table and joining the tables in a spaced relationship with theadjoining table edges spacedapart at least one Ping-Pong ball diameter.

2. A game table for moving a ball from one surface to another as setforth in claim 1 wherein,

said tables having tops which are generally triangular in shape.

3. A game table for moving a ball from one surface to anothercomprising,

a first horizontal table, and

a second horizontal table in the same plane as said first table andspaced from said first table, said tables are generally triangular inshape, including, means adjustably connecting the tables to one anotherwith their tops in a common plane, with a point of one table topadjoining a point of the other table top, and with a base edge of eachtriangular table top disposed generally parallel to the base edge of theother table top and remote therefrom.

1. A game table for moving a ball from one surface to anothercomprising, a first horizontal table, and a second horizontal table inthe same plane as said first table, each table with legs for supportingsame, and means connected to a leg of each table and joining the tablesin a spaced relationship with the adjoining table edges spaced-apart atleast one Ping-Pong ball diameter.
 2. A game table for moving a ballfrom one surface to another as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said tableshaving tops which are generally triangular in shape.
 3. A game table formoving a ball from one surface to another comprising, a first horizontaltable, and a second horizontal table in the same plane as said firsttable and spaced from said first table, said tables are generallytriangular in shape, includiNg, means adjustably connecting the tablesto one another with their tops in a common plane, with a point of onetable top adjoining a point of the other table top, and with a base edgeof each triangular table top disposed generally parallel to the baseedge of the other table top and remote therefrom.